Gluten-free restaurants in Singapore: Where to eat for those who are sensitive to gluten

Life can be hard when you're trying to keep gluten-containing grains at bay, but these cafes and restaurants make it a walk in the park

1. Super Loco Customs House

The Loco Group's third venture stakes its claim along The Fullerton Heritage precinct. The light-filled space boasts waterfront views of the Marina Bay area, and as always, the soundtrack's an energetic triapse through funk, disco, and latin territories. Surprisingly, vegetarians will find over 28 dishes they can tuck into while those going the gluten-free route can indulge in 90% of the Mexican-inspired menu. Call for the Cerdo, which features tender pork belly served with barbecued pineapple, black beans, and sopes — traditional Mexican corn cakes.

#01-04 Customs House, 70 Collyer Quay. Tel: 6532 2090

2. Afterglow

Afterglow's one of those spots you head to when you want to eat clean while packing in a big punch of flavour. They are religious about putting only fresh, non-processed, vegetarian and vegan fare on the plate, and their kimchi nori rolls have gained quite a following with the yoga-going crowd. Needless to say, their menu is 95% gluten-free. Here, the chef gets creative with mimicking non-gluten-free dishes with gluten-free ingredients. For instance, their 'cheese' platter features a dip made with a cultured cashew nut base, which you scoop up with dehydrated spinach and beetroot crackers. More hearty eats come in the form of a Cuban Brown Rice Burger, which sees a black bean patty, guacamole, and salsa dressing clasped between two brown rice 'buns'.

24 Keong Saik Road. Tel: 6224 8921

3. Angela May Food Chapters

The eponymous restaurant of international culinary host and TV presenter Angela May charms with vegetable-forward dishes that echo the brilliance of Yotam Ottolenghi. Following a menu shakeup in September, the handsome restaurant has slipped more gluten-free dishes onto the menu, including the likes of sesame-crusted teriyaki tofu, a smoked salmon salad, and a house-made granola bowl amped up with caffeine. Sweet endings come in the form of chia pudding pots topped with matcha coconut, berries and gula melaka, and chocolate combined with raw almond butter.

#02-02 Robinsons The Heeren. 260 Orchard Road. Tel: 6681 7440

4. Open Door Policy

When Spa Esprit Group #girlboss Cynthia Chua and executive chef Ryan Clift (of Tippling Club fame) put their heads together, you can expect some of the most extreme ideas to take flight. This time around, they've overhauled the menu at Open Door Policy to make it 100% gluten- and dairy-free. An indoor vertical farming programme allows the restaurant to pluck their own greens for a menu that straddles both contemporary Western and Asian flavours. Striving to replicate flavours and textures commonly associated with gluten and butter, the dishes at ODP are decidedly light and tasty. Think a vegan macaroni pasta topped with Portobello bolognese gratin, chorizo and octopus salad, and fermented root vegetables paired with quinoa, garlic soil, and garden herbs.

19 Yong Siak Street. Tel: 6221 9307

5. Kitchen by Food Rebel

Of course we had to feature at least one acai bowl on this page and the one from Kitchen by Food Rebel heaves under the weight of house-made granola, goji berries, chia seeds, mangoes, and bananas. This is the eatery that welcomes everyone and anyone saddled with dietary restrictions. Besides offering plenty of vegan and vegetarian dishes, each offering on the menu is marked with nut-free, gluten-free, or dairy-free stamps. Gluten-free treats here include baked pumpkin salads topped with creamy feta, and Rebel Buddha-Bowls, which features a nutrient-dense mix of hormone-free chicken, hummus, and avocado topped with a pumpkin and Tahini dressing.